Amelia Christnot is an Oglala Lakota, Kanien'kehá:ka Haudenosaunee and Metís Navy brat who settled in the wilds of Northern Maine. A member of the Indigenous Journalists Association, she considers herself another proud Maineiac.
When adult children move back home, it can get very crowded. Especially if they bring children with them. Who should make sacrifices to accommodate the new residents? The parent of the children? Or anyone living in the home. A younger sister turned to the “Am I The A**hole” (AITA) subReddit for feedback when her older […] More
Child custody arrangements may be made at the time of a final divorce decree, but they can be altered or amended as circumstances change. But if the agreement already covers certain contingencies, is a parent obligated to amend a custody arrangement to make another adult happy? A father struggling with the right thing to do […] More
I dislike when people suggest doing something just to “keep the peace.” What they’re really saying is why don’t people let some toxic person walk all over everyone so the problematic person doesn’t throw a tantrum. I’m my Mother’s daughter, so indulging bad behavior isn’t in my DNA. Why keep the peace that isn’t really […] More
Group vacations, whether with family or friends, can be a lot of fun. Or they can be full of drama. A woman whose girls trip caused hurt feelings, even before the trip even happened, turned to the “Am I The A**hole” (AITA) subReddit to pose a “Would I Be The A**hole” (WIBTA) scenario for feedback. […] More
Cooking for the family requires planning to make sure all the ingredients are available. But what if the primary cook always seems to need a missing ingredient for every meal? If they’re cooking, does that mean their significant other is obligated to go to the store? A woman tired of last-minute trips to the grocery […] More
Misgendering means to refer to someone, especially a transgender person, using a word, especially a pronoun or form of address, that does not reflect their gender identity. But misgendering isn’t just an issue for transgender people. Any person who fails to conform to gender stereotypes can be a target, like in a recent incident in […] More
Some people can’t wait to have children. They dream of it, sometimes even from the time of their own childhood. While others have no desire to ever have children. Now with changes in societal expectations and access to reproductive healthcare, people who never wanted kids aren’t forced to have them. Unless they live in a […] More
There’s a saying: “Tradition is just peer pressure from dead people.” I don’t know if I’d go that far. But many of my family traditions once had federal laws—the Indian Acts—that banned them until the 1970s-1990s. Upholding our traditions feels more like an act of rebellion than conformity, so maybe I’m biased when it comes […] More
One unfortunate thing that comes with adulthood is bills. When you’re young and on your own, things might be difficult, but when you have a family, the stakes are even higher. A single adult can couch surf when things get tough, but bringing a spouse and children along with them is rarely an option. A […] More
At one time, rooming houses were designated for only men or only women. Of course, this was also before it was common for people to live together before marriage. Now, shared housing might be a mixture of genders and sexualities. But not everyone is comfortable with such arrangements. A man who shares his home with […] More
Meat substitutes have come a long way since tofurkey and tofu-pups, some of the only options available when my Sisters dabbled with vegetarian and vegan diets. I am an obligate omnivore. I have issues maintaining my iron levels without animal proteins. My Mother had the same issue, and yes, we tried all the supplements and […] More
I travel by train whenever possible. I love train travel. One thing I always do is pay the few extra dollars for trip insurance. That way, if I have to cancel for any reason, I get a full refund. Stuff happens in life. A brother dealing with family vacation drama turned to the “Am I […] More
